Pocket surgical instrument set, cased, Barcelona, Spain, 1801-1900

This fourteen-piece surgical instrument kit was small enough to be carried by the owner. The case is leather embossed and painted with gold detail and also has a side pocket, possibly for papers. The kit contains a needle, two catheters, two knives, an elevator, a spatula, two directors, forceps, a pair of scissors, a probe and two bistouries. The instruments are made of steel and fold into protective tortoiseshell handles. The blades are held in place when opened to stop the instruments slipping during use and causing damage and extra pain to the patient or cutting the user’s hand. The set is marked with the name “Molinari Fade Stevan”.

Related Objects

Glossary

Glossary:

Glossary: probe

medical tool used during diagnostic process

Glossary: bistoury caché

A long, narrow-bladed knife, with a straight or curved edge and sharp or blunt point (probe-point); used for opening or slitting cavities or hollow structures. Bistoury caché literally translates as hidden knife

Glossary: surgical instrument set

Set of instruments to be used for surgery. A physician would often build up their own collection of favoured tools in order to feel as comfortable as possible when carrying out surgery.

Glossary: spatula

No description.

Glossary: catheter

A flexible tube, narrow enough to be inserted into the body, where it is used for withdrawing fluids. Most typically used for extracting urine from the bladder.